Page 27 of Time Stops With You

Monday morning, I host a meeting with my team and they’re jumping at the bit to ask about the hacker. I keep them on task by handing out assignments and discussing the latest data pulls.

But my attempts to maintain order don’t last long.

“So now that we’ve finished with work,” Asad grins manically from his computer monitor. “Did you go looking for the hacker? Did you go with the cops? Are you suing him now?”

“I hope you didn’t turn him over to the feds.” Dr. Young’s eyes dart back and forth. “They’re all in cahoots, you know. None of them can be trusted.”

“The hacker is no longer a problem. I handled it.” I turn to look at the simulation code running peacefully behind me.

“What did you do?” Asad asks, his nose so close to the camera I can see every pore.

“We had a conversation.”

Everyone takes a breath at the same time.

Asad starts chewing on a fingernail. “What do you mean a ‘conversation’?”

“Is he going to be working with us?” Dr. Young asks and then he withdraws from the camera as if he’s about to be hit. “Don’t tell me you’re bringing a criminal on the team.”

“He won’t be on the team exactly, but yes… we’ll be collaborating.”

Everyone groans.

I push away from my worn gamer chair and click off a few monitors. “Remember to send me the data from today’s experiment. I won’t be available to help with the infrastructure until after three.”

“Are you going to the hospital?” One of my technicians asks.

“No, I’ll be at The School For The Scientifically Gifted.”

“Oh right.” Asad snaps his fingers. “Hey, why does that name sound familiar?”

Dr. Young arches a brow. “Didn’t the IP address lead to that school as well?”

Asad pales a shade. “Don’t tell me our hacker’s…”

“In sixth grade?” Dr. Young finishes.

Asad bursts out laughing. “No, I was going to say ‘is a teacher’.” Asad brushes away a tear. “You’re a hoot, Dr. Young! How could a nine year oldpossiblyunderstand, much less write, advanced code.”

Dr. Young turns red.

“Eleven,” I say.

Their attention swings back to me.

“Sixth graders are ages ten to eleven. Not nine.”

“Yeah, sure. Whatever.” Asad brushes me off and continues. “The hacker must be a programing teacher.”

“I still think it’s the Russians,” Dr. Young grumbles.

I reach for the ‘leave meeting’ button. “Don’t worry. I’ll introduce you when the time is right.”

“Cullen!”

“No way!”

I cut off my monitor on their exaggerated expressions and chuckle to myself. It was tempting to reveal Josiah’s identity, but it’s not the right time. I haven’t had a proper chat with him yet, so the team will need to wait in line.

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